Assigjtob to the lamsok



(No Mqdel.)

E; L. GILES.

I SWITCH FOR STORE SERVIGE APPARATUS. No. 310,815.

Patented Jan. 13, 1885L N PLTERS, Phnlu-lllhngmplvm. Washington. uvcfIlmrnn S'rA'rns BA'rnnr @rrrnn.

EDWIN L. GILES, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON CASHRAILWVAY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH FOR sroas snnvice APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,815, dated January13, 1885.

Application filed May 524, 1881. (N model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN L. GILns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSwitches for Store-Service Apparatns, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of storeservice apparatus in whichthe ways consist of parallel rails; and my invention consists in aswitch constructed and combined with the rails of the track, as fullyset forth hereinafter, so as to prevent the discharge of any carriersbut those intended to be deflected by the switch, and so as to reducethe space heretofore required forswitch appliances.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of sufficient of thetrack of a storeservice apparatus to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 isa plan view, and Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the line 1 2, Fig. 1.

It has heretofore been common in providing store-service apparatus withwhat are called drop-switches to make the switch from a portion of thetrack pivotally secured, so that it will tilt under the weight of theball and direct the latter to the desired receptacle. In such cases theswitch-sections of the track have been either pivoted about midwaybetween their length or nearer the end adjacent to the highest portionof the track, the switchsection in either case dropping below the track,and serving as a guide to direct the carriers to the receptacle.

In those cases where the switch-sections have been centrally pivoted,one portion, when the switch is tilted, projects above the track and theother portion extends below, and in either case the switch occupies anextended portion of the track, and the space or opening left in thetrack when the switch is tilted is extensive, and frequently permits thepassage of carriers from the track at points where they should not bedelivered. To obviate these objections I cut away the rails to a of themain track for a distance but little longer than the diameter of thecarrier which is to pass through the track at this point, and to thesecutaway portions I adapt the rails b of the switch-section B, and pivotsaid sectionat the extreme ends of the rails nearest the lowest portionof the track, so that when the switch-section is tilted to the positionshown in Fig. lthe track will not be opened on the lowest side of theswitch,while the opening on the opposite side will be but little morethan sufficient for the passage of the carrier, the result being thatthe latter is quickly delivered from the track to the receptacle,and theswitch portion, closing instantly, affords a continuous track for thepassage of the following carriers.

The switch may be opened and closed by any of the usual or availableappliances. For instance, it may be locked in a horizontal position bymeans of alatch, D, pivoted beneath the track, and engaging with a lip,6, upon the switch-section, a lever, I, overhanging the track andconnected to the latch, being struck by the carriers which are to bedelivered at such point, and thus withdrawing the latch, so that thetrack-section can be raised by a counter weight, W, or any othersuitable means.

As a means of closing the switch,I provide the switch-section B at theunder side with an arm, J, constructed and arranged to occupy a positionbelow the opening in the track when the switch'section is elevated, sothat the carrier which passes to said opening must strike said arm, andby its contact therewith carry the switch-section to a horizontal position, in which it will be locked by the latch D.

Where the switch-section is pivoted centrally, so that there is anopening at the lowest portion of the track beyond the pivotpoint, when acarrier is upon the switch at the time it is opened by a followingcarrier both will be discharged into the receptacle,

although the first is intended for a more distant station.

It will be seen that the device above de scribed is not open to thisobjection, inasmuch as the carrier upon the switch-section B at themoment the latter is opened by a following carrier is directed from theswitch onto the main track and there continues.

By the above-described construction I am enabled to reduce the length ofthe switchsection to a minimum, and can also place the unlocking devicein close proximity to the pivot-point, so that the space actuallyoccupied upon the track by the switch and its appurtences; is very muchless than in appliances heretofore employed.

When this switch is used in connection with a supplemental section, A,intended to retain the carriers until they pass to a drop-basket orother receptacle, the arm J serves as a guard to prevent the carrierfrom passing beyond the end of the receptacle, and also lessens theforce with which the carrier passes to the sup- 7 plemental track.

The improved switch above described will be found specially serviceablein stores where a large business is conducted and carriersof differentsizes follow each other in close succession, inasmuch as one ofcontiguous carriers can open the switch and pass downward and then closethe switch before the following carrier reaches the position adjacent tothe end of the switch.

Without limiting myself to the precise con struction and arrangement ofparts shown, I claim 1. A switch for store-service apparatus, in which aswitch-section of the track adjacent to each station is pivoted close toits end adjacent to the lower portion of the track, and is combined witha locking and releasing device adapted to be operated only by thecarriers to be discharged at such station, and with an arm arranged tobe struck by the carriers for moving the switch to ahorizontal positionas a carrier passes through the track, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the switch section pivoted at its lower end to themain track, locking device adapted to be operated by the carriers, armon the switch-section arranged to be struck by the carriers as they passfrom the track, and asupplemental track arranged below the main track,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN L. GILES.

Witnesses:

E. F. ENDICOTT, C. W. LOOKE.

